Maybe every generation has said “there has never been a time like now.” But it is true ten times over for this generation. We have the spirit of the 1960s with access and opportunities that generations before us only dreamed of and a President who, so far, seems willing to listen and ready to act. In other words, we will have no excuses if we are unable to make deep and positive change.
It’s time for us to step up our game.
I spent last weekend in Washington DC for an event called PowerShift09. The event, organized by a youth organization called the Energy Action Coalition, aimed to bring together a convergence of young people from across the nation to send a message of bold, comprehensive and immediate federal climate action to Capitol Hill. And of course to share information, meet other engaged youth, and learn new skills. It was an impressive event with incredible energy - a testament to the potential power of collective action. Wandering through a conference center with 10,000 other young people, all gathered to take responsibility for righting the wrongs in the world, got me thinking about many things.
Three main questions kept running through my mind:What exactly do we want? Who do we want to do it? How do we want it to be done?
Simple enough questions but I am learning more and more just how difficult it is to have a clear vision. Sure we want a sustainable world that is just and inclusive, in which everyone has access to food, employment, education, clean water, clean air, and open space. Yes we want Green Jobs not Jails. But what do these things LOOK like? HOW do we do them? Who will play what roles?
Underlying all those questions were two more: How do we gain the knowledge we need to answer those three questions? How do we build a movement that is unified enough to get what we want once we figure out what that is?
Come together. That is the best answer I could come up with [the Beatles had t all figured out]. Come together to share information and, perhaps more importantly, to build relationships.
I’m hopeful that Bioneers by the Bay: Connecting for Change can help us start to answer some of these questions. Help us build relationships, help us DESIGN and IMPLEMENT our future. A daunting task for a young person, but what I’m realizing is that it’s a daunting task for ANY person. We need EVERYONE’s help to figure this stuff out.
We need to start deciding what we want our world to look like. Now.
I am committed to doing what I can to make this year’s Youth Initiative a training ground for creativity, action, and solidarity. Applications are in for the Youth Committee and we’ll hit the ground running within the next month. But I could use your help - please send in your ideas, help us reach out to more schools and organizations, volunteer to be a mentor.
Think of the Youth Initiative as a resource, a tool that you have at your disposal to bring people together and make things happen.
Send questions and ideas to: kalia@connectingforchange.org
or call: 508.748.0816.
We Want Your Input
We want your input, so we can better shape this years conference. No one knows better about what our attendees needs or wants are better that you, our attendees. So please share any ideas, comments or thought you may have right there on this blog.
STAY CONNECTED
Share your thoughts with other Bioneers by the Bay attendees throughout the year: what keynotes you loved, what you would like to see next year, what you are doing in your community to create positive change...
Early Bird has been EXTENDED
The Early Bird deadline has been extended to OCTOBER 10! So there is still time to REGISTER.
2009 Workshops
Due to the huge influx of Bioneers by the Bay: Connecting for Change workshop proposals we have created a form for 2009 workshops. Please click here to fill out the form and email it to info@connectingforchange.org. Please keep in mind that Bioneers by the Bay is focused on visionary and practical solutions for restoring the earth and its inhabitants.
Poisoned Profits
Why are so many American children – one out of three – sick with autism, ADHD, asthma, birth defects, cancer and other chronic illnesses? Why is infertility on the rise, and the ratio of male babies dwindling? With poignant stories of community and families, Poisoned Profits: The Toxic Assault on Our Children offers the evidence connecting the exponential increase toxic chemicals in our everyday lives to this epidemic among the children of baby boomers, the first to be raised in a truly ‘toxified’ world. It reveals why, even as individual parents and pediatricians struggle to fight illness, one child at a time, the public remains in the dark about the enormity of this national crisis and the toxic assault continues. Published by Random House in August 2008, the book also offers guidance to parents (including pregnant women and pregnancy planning couples) about protecting their children and to all readers as citizens about how to bring about change. It describes where to go for more advice including websites, books, organizations and scientists ready to answer parents’ specific questions.
To learn more: www.poisonedprofits.com
To learn more: www.poisonedprofits.com
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